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Mets still in the race after 13-0 rout over Marlins
2007-09-30
The slumping New York Mets managed to stay alive in the National League East and NL wild card races after John Maine flirted with a no-hitter in their 13-0 rout of the Florida Marlins on Saturday. The Mets led the East race by seven games with 17 left to play but could have been eliminated with a loss on Saturday. Instead, they pulled back even with the losing Philadelphia Phillies in the East race with one game to play. Both teams are tied with the winning Colorado Rockies, a game behind the losing San Diego Padres in the wild card chase. If there is a four-way tie for the wild card, the Mets and Phillies will play off for the East on Monday in Philadelphia and the loser would then enter a three-team playoff with the Padres and Rockies for the wild card. "We're still in it," Mets manager Willie Randolph said after Maine pitched 7 2/3 innings of no-hit ball and struck out a career-high 14 batters for his 15th win of the year. "I still believe in my guys." Maine gave up only a rolling infield single to Paul Hoover as the right-hander attempted to pitch the first no-hitter in the Mets' 45-year history. Lastings Milledge hit two homers and the Mets hammered out a season-high 19 hits to end an eight-game home losing streak. They now send future Hall of Famer Tom Glavine to the mound to face Dontrelle Willis in Sunday's regular season finale. Willis is 11-3 with a 2.49 ERA lifetime against the Mets, 5-0 at New York's Shea Stadium. Hoover was in the game only because catcher Miguel Olivo was ejected for charging at New York's Jose Reyes during a pitching change. "We probably could have used something like that a month ago," said Mets reliever Billy Wagner. * The Washington Nationals stalled the Philadelphia Phillies' charge to the playoffs with a 4-2 road win. Matt Chico pitched six strong innings. * The visiting San Diego Padres had a chance to secure a playoff spot but lost 4-3 in 11 innings to the Milwaukee Brewers. All-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman gave up a two-out, game-tying triple to Tony Gwynn Jr. -- son of the Padres' Hall of Famer -- in the ninth and Milwaukee won it in the 11th. The Brewers fell short in their surprise playoff push. * The Arizona Diamondbacks won the West title as a result of the Padres defeat. Arizona were hammered 11-1 by the surviving Colorado Rockies as sizzling rookie Troy Tulowitzki hit a grand slam. Arizona has the home field advantage throughout the NL playoffs. (Writing by Mike Shalin in Boston)
Mets give Santana landmark contract (2008-02-02)Yankees offer Rivera $45M for 3 years (2007-11-14)Mets still in the race after 13-0 rout over Marlins (2007-09-30)Free-falling Mets lose 9-6 to Nationals (2007-09-26)NL wild-card race tightens (2007-09-13)
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